Air Force testing communications terminals

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., April 10 (UPI) -- New wide band communications terminals that carry communications for the command and control of U.S. nuclear forces are to be tested by the U.S. Air Force.

Boeing, maker of the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals, says it has delivered two engineering development models to the service for testing aboard aircraft and at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.

"These models will allow the Air Force to test how actual terminals will perform in their deployed configurations," said Paul Geery, Boeing vice president and FAB-T program manager. "With tests conducted in 2012, Boeing has demonstrated that FAB-T can perform effectively even in the extreme vibration and harsh temperatures found on airborne platforms."

The Air Force plans to use the FAB-T system on B-2 and B-52 bombers, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, and E-4 and E-6 Special Air Mission aircraft, as well as in fixed and transportable configurations on the ground.

Additional details on the terminals and specifics on Air Force testing were not provided.

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